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46 Friday, December 28, 1919
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Louis LaMed, Sponsor of Hebrew and Yiddi sh Cultural Projects
Leader of Educational Programs in Detroit Jewi sh Community
Louis LaMed, for three
decades a leader in local
educational and communal
projects, who gained na-
tional fame as sponsor of
Hebrew and Yiddish liter-
ary undertakings, died in Chapel by Rabbi Max
Miami Beach, Fla., Sunday Weine, Dr. Abraham
Rogoff, Philip Slomovitz
afternoon. He was 82.
He was eulogized at over- and Cantor Louis Klein.
Born in Novaya Ushitza,
flow funeral services Wed-
nesday at Ira Kaufman Ukraine, he came to Detroit
in 1921, studied briefly at
Northern High School to
perfect his English, contin-
ued his studies at a junior
college, which had de-
veloped into Wayne State
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Foundation for the Ad-
vancement of Hebrew and
Yiddish Literature. To
encourage and stimulate
creativity in Hebrew and
Yiddish writing, annual
prizes were awarded for
outstanding works pub-
lished in both languages in
America.
From 1941 to 1960, the
foundation distributed 90
awards to authors, at a
total expenditure of
$150,000.
For several years, the
foundation also issued
awards for works in English
having a bearing on Yiddish
or Hebrew. With the Israeli
publishing house Dvir, the
LaMed Foundation also
published the prize-
LOUIS LaMED
winning Glatstein novel
and Isaac Bashevis Singer's
surance business. He re-
"Satan in Goray."
tired in 1960.
The foundation published
Prior to coming to De-
troit, he enjoyed a many other works, includ-
ing the Hebrew anthology
noteworthy introduction
to scholarly tasks, to He- "Achisefer," and a collection
brew and Yiddish learn- of Jewish martyrdom
entitled "Kidush Hashem."
ing. As a child, he was
Distributors of the publica-
enrolled in an ultra-
Orthodox school, the tions the Central Yiddish
Culture Organization and
Kamenetz-Podolsk
Yeshiva. From there, he the Histadrut Ivrit, re-
ceived
all proceeds.
went to one of the most
The LaMeds established a
modern schools in Russia
— the Odessa Yeshiva, of professorship in Jewish
which Rav Tzair Tcher- studies at Wayne State
University. Among the in-
nowitz was the director.
structors was Dr. Norman
Not only the Ray Tzair,
Drachler, who directed a
one of the great talmudic
scholars, but the most nota- course in "The Development
of Jewish Cultural Patterns
ble scholars of his time were
Mr. LaMed's teachers there: in American Society."
Chaim Nahman Bialik
The LaMed Professor-
taught literature, Prof.
ship took root in 1955
Joseph Klausner was his in-
with the appointmert of
structor in history.
Dr. Isaac Rabinowitz as
Mendele Moher Seforim
associate professor.
Abrahamovitz occasionally
Three years later, the
visited the school, and Mr.
university took over the
LaMed had an opportunity program, and the de-
to meet the great Yiddish
partment for Near East-
and Hebrew writer.
ern Languages and Lit-
Then, for a year, LaMed erature was born, under
the direction of the late
studied at the St. Vladimir
University in Kiev before
Dr. Abram Spiro.
emigrating to the United Not resting
N t ing tnere, LaMed
States.
announced in 1960 the crea-
Upon his arrival here,
tion of a fund to the Na-
Mr. LaMed taught in the tional Foundation for
United Hebrew Schools to Jewish Culture to encour-
earn his way through age Jewish scholarship.
school.
Awards would be given for
In recognition of Mr. outstanding masters' theses
LaMed's many contribu-
on Jewish subjects accepted
tions to Jewish education by accredited universities
and in appreciation for a in the U.S. and Canada.
generous contribution,
the United Hebrew
He also was a past
Schools named the au- president of the Sholem
ditorium of its Southfield Aleichem Institute and was
campus complex in a member of the Labor
honor of Louis and Zionist Alliance.
Esther LaMed.
Mr. LaMed was the
Mr. LaMed, honorary
chairman of the Midrasha founder and owner of the
Michigan Furniture Co.,
board of directors, is a vete-
Book
ran member of the UHS Bay Furniture and
at
board of directors and has Furniture. He resided
16259 Mayfair, South-
served as chairman of the
field.
education division of the
Mr. LaMed leaves his
Jewish Welfare Federation.
He also has been active with wife, Esther; two daughters.
the Jewish Community Mrs. Barney (Barbara)
Council executive commit- Rosen of Ann Arbor and
tee and Jewish Center and Mrs. Max (Renah) Bardens-
Federation Apartments tein; a brother, Arnold
Malamud; four sisters, Rose
boards of directors.
With the aim of making Katz, Esther Janiotis, Mrs.
peace between the Heb- Reva Gruich and Mrs. Syl-
raists and the Yiddishists, via Weinstein of New York;
Mr. LaMed in 1940 estab- seven grandchildren three
lished the Louis LaMed great-grandchildren.
...... . .
University, and earned his
law degree at the Univer-
sity of Detroit. Admitted to
the State Bar in 1926, he
never practiced his profes-
sion, having entered the in-